Zuleika Dobson

'Zuleika Dobson' is a sparkling and irreverent satire that lampoons the traditions of Oxford University and the follies of romantic obsession. The story follows the arrival of the devastatingly beautiful and charismatic Zuleika Dobson, a world-traveling prestidigitator who visits her grandfather, the Warden of Judas College. Her presence instantly sends the entire undergraduate population into a frenzy of unrequited love. Led by the proud and aristocratic Duke of Dorset, the students find themselves so captivated by her charms that they collectively vow to drown themselves in the River Isis as a grand, tragic gesture of their devotion.Max Beerbohm’s only novel is a masterpiece of Edwardian wit, blending elements of fantasy, dandyism, and dark comedy. With its sharp prose and ironic detachment, the work serves as both a critique of aestheticism and a timeless exploration of vanity and youthful melodrama. Through the character of Zuleika, a woman who can only love someone who does not love her, Beerbohm explores themes of desire and the absurdity of social conventions. This celebrated campus novel remains one of the most unique and enduring works of 20th-century British fiction, cherished for its elegant style and playful subversion of the romantic genre.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.